Chapter 196: Snape (Part 1)

This summer held no allure for Severus Snape. At least, that was how he saw it.

On the day he left Hogwarts, he Apparated directly from Hogsmeade Village back to Spinner's End. He had meticulously prepared a stack of lesson plans, notes, and research materials, determined to ensure Orli Waters would have a "productive" holiday.

He had little to pack; his wardrobe consisted of a sparse handful of garments. While gathering his belongings, Snape's fingers brushed against his left forearm. Beneath the concealing fabric of his sleeve lay an unsightly gray-black mark, which had been undergoing an unsettling transformation in recent days—the pattern growing sharper, the color deepening. Now, it was unmistakably taking the form of a skull with a serpent emerging from its mouth, identical to the mark's appearance over a decade ago.

This could only signify two things: the Dark Lord's power was resurging, or the Dark Lord himself was drawing nearer.

The sensations from those years were still seared into his memory. Whenever the Dark Lord grew stronger or approached, the marks on every Death Eater's arm would become increasingly vivid. And when summoned, the mark would burn with an agonizing heat.

Snape pressed his arm through the sleeve, silently imploring that the searing pain never return. Yet reason told him that day loomed near. Trelawney, for once, might have gotten it right—the Dark Lord would rise again.

At the first sign of changes in the mark, he had sent a report to Dumbledore. Yet the reply he received was to hold steady and take no action for now. Snape couldn't help but wonder if the old man had grown overly cautious with age, hesitating and second-guessing every move.

If that man truly returned, Dumbledore would undoubtedly play his pawn. But how could Snape stomach bowing and scraping before the very man who had taken Lily's life? The thought of kneeling once more to kiss the hem of that madman's robes filled Snape with a fury that made him want to destroy everything. If he had the power to drag Voldemort down with him, he wouldn't hesitate for an instant. But his strength fell short, even to avenge Lily with his own hands...

Frustrated, he slammed his fist against the table, sending a potion vial rolling off the edge to shatter on the floor. Orli Waters inexplicably surfaced in his mind again, further irritating him. How could he have the energy to deal with a child at a time like this?!

After lingering at Spinner's End for five days, Snape finally, though reluctantly, set off for the old Waters family estate. When he Apparated to the outskirts of the house, a storm had just begun, soaking both him and Waters, who was in the garden, until they were half-drenched. This only soured Snape's mood further.

The first time he had come to this place was three years ago. Back then, it had looked like a haunted house from a distance, and Waters herself had resembled a stray child. Now, three years later, as he stepped into the house for the first time, he found it entirely transformed. New wallpaper adorned the walls, handmade wool carpets covered the floors, magical paintings by renowned artists hung in frames, and expensive porcelain vases brimmed with fresh flowers...

And to think he had once worried that her business might suffer under Lucius's influence. Snape sneered at himself and allowed Orli Waters to lead him to the guest room on the second floor.

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Notes:

① This summer, Wormtail has already reunited with the Dark Lord. They are currently residing at the Riddle Manor in England, accompanied by Nagini. At the very start of the summer holiday, Harry dreamt of them murdering a Muggle. His scar has been hurting more frequently, so it stands to reason that Snape's Dark Mark would also begin to change accordingly.

② Dumbledore has now uncovered the existence of Horcruxes, which means he understands that even if Voldemort were found and killed now, it wouldn't truly destroy him. Hence, he has instructed Snape and the others not to act prematurely.

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